Easy Access Showers

Being able to get around the bathroom is one of the keys to an independent lifestyle, and manufacturers are responding to this with a wide variety of products to help.

Showers are much easier to use than baths. Make sure you pick a shower tray that is easy to access (low level or flush with the floor) with a textured surface that will help prevent slips.

There are trays that have been designed to fill the space previously occupied by a bath.

Wet floor shower areas are increasingly popular as an alternative to fitting a shower tray, providing completely open and level access. They are ideal for wheelchair users, and a good choice where it is not practical to install a tray.

A number of companies now produce wet floor formers, with an inbuilt gradient to assist drainage. These are laid level with the existing floor and then the whole area can be covered with a non-slip vinyl, to give a waterproof surface without any lips or ramps.

The range shown above includes a wet floor former with integral drain, and elegantly designed screens and doors, which can be fitted directly to a wet floor, to make an enclosure that suits the space and the user's needs.

The level access tray shown on the right incorporates a special grip strip along the edge, to seal the tray to the floor in a completely watertight way.

It provides a shower facility that can be accessed on foot or in a wheeled chair. Built-in reinforced steel sections ensure that the trade is robust enough to withstand wheelchair access.

Doors, curtains or a cubicle will complete your shower facility. Curtains are cheaper than doors, but do not retain the water so well. You might like to consider half-height or barn style doors, which allow someone to help with washing, if that is necessary.

Make sure that doors open wide enough to allow for easy entry, aren't too heavy, and give good protection against water seepage.

Air-assisted doors like these on the left are particularly useful for larger, bath replacement trays.

They can be moved easily from open to closed position, even by someone with a weakened grip.

A slide-in shower adapts the easy access concept, enabling the bather to seat themselves before getting into the shower, lifting their legs in once they are sitting securely. The enclosure fits directly into the space left by a bath, making it quick and economical to install.